David Hayden Photography
In Anticipation of the Snow Moon
The Warmth of a Winter Day
It had been a couple of days since we had seen the sun around here, which is very unusual for the high desert. But that all changed.
Early yesterday morning, I noticed the bright sun glistening on the newly fallen snow. There was not a lot of snow, the near zero temperatures kept the water content down, so the flakes were tiny but did accumulate to about an inch.
With the sun came some balmy temperatures (2° F), I found myself inspired to take the short trip over to Lake Pueblo State Park. If you’ve read my book, you know I am a fan of the park, but I digress. The date, Feb 12, 2025, and the Snow Moon was but 12 hours away.
Cold temps, in my mind bring out the best of the park. The snow crystals glisten in the rising sun, the ice near the shore collects the snow and creates beautiful textures. But it all must start somewhere, and on this morning, it started just after sunrise.
I must admit, I was a little late getting to a favorite spot so there were few opportunities to fully seize the moment. So I had to move on. Different areas around the park look better under certain lighting conditions than do others. So I drove from the campground area, stopped on Juniper road just above Sailboard access road and moved on to the area around the dam and park entrance.
The large icicles on the face of the dam immediately brought to mind how cold my fingers were feeling.
Most photographers know it is always important to look back in the opposite direction from their immediate subject because often an interesting shot is just behind you. This morning that axiom once again proved true.
Enough of this. It was time to move on to another area and warm up my fingers on the heated steering wheel.
My next stop was the South Shore Marina. By this time the sun was higher and the warm light gone. However, the brilliant blue sky spread cool tones all around, further emphasizing the cold look and feel.
A hole in the sky
But then it happened. The Snow Moon, pierced a giant hole in the sky letting all the warmth of the day escape into space.
When I awoke this morning the warmth of a pleasant 2° F day was gone. The sun rising this clear cloudless morning illuminated the deep, deep fog over the reservoir caused, no doubt, by -9°F air temps hovering on top of what water remained unfrozen.
Spoiler Alert: Cove N-1 is frozen over for the moment.
May the images in your mind become your inspired creations!
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